Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-09-22
UNCOVERING THE MAIN.
Curing Defects i'm the big Water Pipe.
NUMEROUS CRACKS FOUND IN r-A MYSTERIOUS RE-
PORT LIKE THAT OF CANN0N-wHAT CAUSED IT?

NUMEROUS CRACKS FOUND IN rT-A MYSTERIOUS RE-
PORT LIKE THAT OF CANNoN-wHAT CAUSED TT
The L~street main has been stripped along its
entire length from Goth to 21st street. A trench
has been dug by the laborers about fifteen feet
wide and ten feet deep, and the pipe scraped by
shovels and washed to expose any cracks there
may be In it A small crack, about sinches long,
was discovered this morning by superintendent
Hayden In the main directly opposite No. 2042 l.
street, and few feet to the east OF the place
where the break occurred last Monday night. It
Is In the form OF longitudinal split from about
midway OF the pipe, where 1t rests on the stone
pier and runs toward the tail end OF the section.
slight leakage OF water, Mr.. Hayden will put a
jacket over the split this afternoon to Obvate any
Trouble that might occur otherwise.
THIS Is THE FOURTH SPLIT
that has been found in the main, and all are
within length Of ITO feet OF the pipe. On Mon-
day morning, while inserting the new section Of
pipe In place at the point where the first break
CURED, the IabOrers discovered longitudinal
crack In the pipe extending from the center OF the
distance of feet 10 Inches. The crack was in the
second section OF pipe from the place where the
new section was being inserted and opposite No
2USS street, but before that night 1t had been
bic break.
DECAY OF TIE WOODEN BLOCKS ON WHICH THE HEAVY
PIPE RESTS.
within two hundred feet OF 22d street, which is
the distance 1t is supposed to rest on the stone
piers. A STAR reporter jumped into the trench to
day and made an examination. 1t was found that
the length OF pipe in which the four breaks or
SpntS nave been discovered was laid on wooden
blocking, each piece being about four inches thick
by six inches wide. These blocks were placed on
top OF the piers with the evident intention to
compensate. as Mr.. Perry stated in his letter to
TIE STAR last night, for the deficiency in the level
OF the piers They are now entirely rotted away,
and crumble under the hand like SpOnge-cake
When first laid the blocks were Of green wood,
and as the process OF decay advanced In them the
pipe has sunk down lower and lower, until now 1T
Is only quarter OF an inch above the stone piers
superintendent Hayden claims that the proof OF
the theory that the recent breaks or splits were
the result Of the subsistence OF the pipe is found
IN the TACT That the breaks were found in every in
stance TO be In the pipe where it rested on the
stone piers.
The pipe is of the heaviest kind and weighs
about three tons to section Of II feet. When the
main Is full OF water there is pressure upon the
pipe OF 20 pounds to the square inch, apart from
the weight Of the pipe itself and the earth and
pavement above.
REPORT LIKE THAT OF CANNoN-wATER Off.
GALS MYSTIFIED
There is a singular thing about these breaks
that has mystined the water department officials
not little and leads them to think that other
causes have assisted in producing the breaks than
those which have been mentioned. Mr.. Herman,
the grocer; Mr.. Larman, the engineer at the
breaks, and the policemen on the beats In that
nelgnuOrnOOu stated tnaL wnen tne break nap
pened on Monday night there was loud report
IKE that OF q cannon being fired. All agree in
stating that there was q tremendous report,
which could be distinctly heard for distance OF
Two docks. This Is what myStffeS the oficialS.
They say that, naturally, when the split was made
the water would have rushed through with very
little noise, and In no case would have made q
SOUND like that which 1t is said to have made.
AN INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS.
Capt. Symons and Superintendent Hayden are
investigating the matter, and expect in the course
OF a few days to develop the why and wherefore
An experienced engineer told THE STAR reporter
that such shock might be produced by shutting
on the water at one OF the valves in the pipe at
West washington after much OF the water which
remained in the main had been drawn out by con-
sumerS. II the water was suddenly turned in
again it would give great shock to and probably
burst the pipe.
Superintendent Hayden hopes to have the work
OF uheovef!ng ana Inspecting the pipe done within
two days time.